Monday, July 29, 2024: Awake from 2:30 am to 5 am, Yikes! James worried about rain, Bro Ellsworth is sick so he won't be working on the Hipps's roof

Layton, Utah

195th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 June 2024

By: David A. Bednar

Book of Mormon

Alma 3611-20

Come Follow Me

July 29-Aug 4: "Look to God and Live"

Alma 36-38 Introduction & Alma 36: 38:5-6 "I can be born of God."

April General Conference 

"Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth" Elder Neil L. Andersen

Walk with Him

"God's Intent is To Bring You Home" Elder Patrick Kearon

I woke up at 2:30 this morning and could not go back to sleep.  I was hungry so I went into the kitchen and made pancakes. They were very good. I was careful to clean up my mess.

When it was time to get up, I was ready to go back to bed. It's going to be a long day.

 Brother Ellsworth was supposed to come and put on the roofing today, but he is sick. Later this afternoon when it looked like it was going to rain, James called him and said he was going to start today.

Brother Ellsworth promised he would be there in the morning so James said he would hold off. Thank goodness it didn't rain.

James and I made a trip to town today for supplies for the job. Of course we ended up going to Taco Bell and Culver's. I like the burrito supreme at Taco Bell and James likes the cod fillet sandwich at Culver's. We are so predictable and full of fast food.

Jared Ammon is coming up tonight or early in the morning so James and I went downstairs to put clean sheets on the bed and to vacuum the rugs. Tom didn't help this time so we were done a lot quicker than last time.

Mason

Sleeping Tom

Last night's Vernon Sunset

I remember this so well. As a kid I always 

wanted to stop here.

Sunday, July 28, 2024: Cows & a coyote, Mel, Ruth, Zemira speak in church, around 35 sisters in RS, lesson goes well, Talk to Tamara, Barbara T., Kathy Crane, Armando's dad welding accident, DGR-BYU speech on covenants, plan temple trip on Tuesday w/ J & Virgil

 

Salta, Argentina

194th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 June 2024

By: D. Todd Christofferson

Book of Mormon

Alma 36:1-10

Come Follow Me

Review

April General Conference

"Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth" Elder Neil L. Andersen

D&C 109:57-60

57 That all the ends of the earth may know that we, thy servants, have heard thy voice, and that thou hast sent us;

58 That from among all these, thy servants, the sons of Jacob, may gather out the righteous to build a holy city to thy name, as thou hast commanded them.

59 We ask thee to appoint unto Zion other stakes besides this one which thou hast appointed, that the gathering of thy people may roll on in great power and majesty, that thy work may be cut short in righteousness.

60 Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles.

We had cows come for water this morning and a coyote heading straight for our house. We yelled at the coyote but instead of turning around and leaving he made a slight right and headed for the Crane's home. He was probably headed for their chicken coop.  Thank goodness their dogs scared him away.

Mel, Ruth, Johnny, and Zemira Wilhelm spoke in sacrament meeting today. Johnny's talk was less than a minute long but Zemira made up for it by taking about 12-15 minutes to tell the conversion story of King Lamoni. I thought he did a great job. It was good practice for his mission. He leaves in September for the Newport Beach, California mission.

We had right around 35 sisters in Relief Society today. Kerri said everyone who wanted one, got a handout. I explained the handout and how it contains scriptural accounts of God's promises to Israel. I think most of the sisters were excited to get it.

There is one other statement I read that I want to share here. I think I got this from my book, "Your Endowments" by Mark Shields.

I may have shared this before but it won't hurt to share it again:

The Abrahamic Covenant, the Temple, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ

The Lord commanded Abraham specifically to take Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer him as a sacrifice. (Genesis 22:2). This is the same place where the temple of Solomon was later built (2 Chronicles 3:1). This is no coincidence. This is a clear and marvelous lesson on the Abrahamic covenant and the sanctuary of the covenant, the temple. Mr. Moriah was not just where the blessings of the covenant were promised; it was where the blessings were unconditionally sealed.

The altar on Mt. Moriah was the most sacred of all sanctuaries of the covenant. Here, Abraham not only offered the greatest and most moving sacrifice he could offer, but he received the greatest and most moving promise he could receive; the promise of eternal life, eternal families, eternal priesthood, and eternal inheritance.

And the connection does not stop there. Mount Moriah was also the site of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God. Golgotha is actually a part of this same holy mountain. The Atonement is the foundation of every temple ordinance. It is only fitting that the temple would be built not just on the spot where the sacrifice of the Savior was so perfectly prefigured but where the great and last sacrifice was wrought.

On Mount Moriah, the Abrahamic covenant, the temple, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ all reach their zenith. The three are inseparably and beautifully connected. The temple exists to bestow the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, and those blessings represent the full power, majesty, and beauty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They are the Atonement of Jesus Christ made alive in the lives of those who receive and honor every covenant and ordinance of the temple. 

There were several people who came up after the lesson and said how much she enjoyed it. Tamara was especially anxious to get home to show Jimmie the document I handed out. 

Cheryl's daughter-in-law, India, was in Relief Society and participated in the lesson. Cheryl's son, Justin, India's husband, also participated in Elders Quorum.

This afternoon we kept waiting for rain, but none came. The sunset was a fiery orange tonight, I think because of the fire.

Armando's dad had a horrible welding accident tonight, catching his pants on fire. He is in the hospital and will probably have to have surgery. Armando doesn't understand how it happened.

We had a relaxing afternoon and evening. We even planned a temple trip with Virgil on Wednesday.

Yummy recipe

 

Beauty of Scotland

Sweet Charlotte on the Sabbath

The sunflowers are starting to bloom

Saturday, July 27, 2024: Woke up to lightning & thunder, J offers to fix me eggs but I ate a cinnamon twist from Dominoes instead, nice day working @ home on my lesson doing handouts, etc. I broke the handled on one of the bedroom recliners

 

Coban, Guatemala

193rd operating temple

Dedicated: 9 June 2024

By: Dale G. Renlund

Book of Mormon

Alma 35

Come Follow Me

Alma 34:30-41

"Now is the time and the day of your salvation."

April General Conference

"Opposition in All Things" Elder Mathias Held

D&C 109:56

That their hearts may be softened when thy servants shall go out from thy house, O Jehovah, to bear testimony of thy name; that their prejudices may give way before the truth and thy people may obtain favor in the sight of all;

 We woke up to lightning and thunder this morning. Tom definitely wanted to come in. 

James offered to fix me eggs for breakfast but I had a cinnamon twist from Dominoes instead.

It was a nice day spent completely at home working on my lesson.

I made 35 copies of the Covenant Israel Manuscript and also an explanation page of it's symbols.

James was worried about it raining today and ruining the lumber on the roof at Hipps's before they could get the final roofing on. Brother Ellsworth is scheduled to come on Monday but James was afraid that would be too late if it rained today. Thank goodness it did not rain.

I got to bed at a decent hour with the plan to get up at 4:30 for final lesson prep of about three hours. 

I did my walking for the day and listened to "For Elise." I also broke the handle on one of the recliner chairs in the bedroom. The one on my favorite side. 

For dinner this evening we had onion, tomato, cucumber salad and James's delicious egg salad sandwiches. He makes the best egg salad!

Dale G. Renlund

My friends Pam Giles and Jennifer Long went to

Yuma to visit our friend Nita Holtz who is in an

assisted living home where she is dying of cancer.

I love all three of these women so much!

Friday, July 26, 2024: Almost 7 before I get up, Lunch w/ Catherine Halcomb @ Pitalian, RNC & Olympics, J's pizza, "Highcliffe House", J washes my car,

 

Taylorsville, Utah

192nd operating temple

Dedicated: 2 June 2024

By: Gerrit W. Gong

Book of Mormon

Alma 34:18-41

Come Follow Me

Alma 34:9-16

I need Jesus Christ and His Atonement

April General Conference

"Bridging the Two Great Commandments" Elder Gary E. Stevenson

D&C 109:55

Remember the kings, the princes, the nobles, and the great ones of the earth, and all people, and the churches, all the poor, the needy, and afflicted ones of the earth;

It was almost 7 before I crawled out of bed this morning. My get up and go has got up and went.

My friend Kerri Halcomb had a kidney transplant a few years ago. Once or twice a year she goes to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and has tests done that take up most of the day. Today is one of those days. Her mom Catherine called me earlier in the week and asked me if I would like to go to lunch with her on Friday. Of course I said yes.

I picked Catherine up around 11:20 and we were on our way. 

I asked Catherine where she wanted to go and she said, "no, you pick." Then she said, "I just want a salad." 

I suggested Persnikkity's and when she didn't seemed too excited I said, "How about Denny's." She thought that sounded okay. 

We were coming upon the stop light by the two big motels when Catherine pointed out the new little restaurant called Pitalians and said that it was a really good restaurant. She said it in time for me to make the turn. 

The place is very casual and they focus on pizza. The menu is up on a board and you stand in line and order what you want. Catherine ordered the lentil bean soup and the house salad and I ordered the same except I asked for a different dressing, a balsamic vinaigrette. 

I was getting us some water when the waitress delivered our food. She gave Catherine my salad and Catherine had already taken a bite before I could tell her of that was my salad. I just let it go.

The food and the salad was delicious and we even had food to take home for dinner.

Catherine Halcomb at Pitalian's

After we finished our lunch we stopped by Dominoes to pick up a think crust veggie pizza for James. Traffic was very busy today and it would have been difficult for me to turn out towards Vernon, so I turned right towards the middle of town. I made a left at the light in the middle of town and went up a block passed the church on the hill where I attended as a teenager. I went down to the corner and was going to turn left on White Mountain Blvd. but the sign said, no left turn. I had to turn right and make a left into the Splash & Dash carwash and gas station, go back out on White Mtn. Blvd. and make a right on Deuce of Clubs Avenue to head out of town towards Vernon. Whew! We are finally on our way home!

 Catherine wondered why I didn't get a pizza at Pitalian's instead of Dominoes. I told her I knew that James loves the thin crust veggie at Dominoes and I wasn't sure about the ones at Pitalian's. Maybe next time.

Catherine likes looking at the clouds and seeing pictures in them. There were lots of white fluffy clouds to look at on the way home. She talked about how much traffic there is now and how it has increased the few years she has lived here. She loves watching the Olympics and she watched all of the Republican National Convention. She is a big Trump supporter. When he got shot she ask me to put his name on the temple prayer roll, which I did.

She said she has listened to or watched the Olympics since they first started. Before television she listened to them on the radio. She is ninety years old. 

After dropping off Catherine at home I headed for home for some R&R. James was grateful for his pizza. 

I finished my book, "Highcliffe House". James walks while I work on my lesson. This afternoon he took my car to town, washed it, and filled it up with gas. Thank you Honey!

We got no rain until early in the morning when the lightning and thunder started. Tom was outside all night. He came inside at 4 am when the noise started.

Notes & Quotes

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." This I can do. I can love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, which then leads to prayer, scripture study, and temple worship. We love the Father and the Son through the payment of tithes, keeping the Sabbath day holy, living a virtuous and chaste life, and being obedient.

'Bridging the Two Great Commandments'

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Tim & Becca's family

Sleeping Tom

We should have named him Whiskers

I love his white little 'bunny' feet

Our first sunflower

Cozy!

Memory Lane

I loved Annette & Connie Francis

Looks like Tom's going to chase the cows away

Sunset

Thursday, July 25, 2024: Inklings w/ Emily & Katy Hughes, James trip to Taylor and DG wherein he loses his load, garlic cheese bombs, Rain, Bunco @ Becky's

 

Pueblo, Mexico

191st operating temple

Dedicated: 19 May 2024

By: Gerrit W. Gong

Book of Mormon

Alma 34:1-17

Come Follow Me

Alma 33:2-11; Alma 34:17-29

I can worship God in prayer, anytime and anywhere.

April General Conference

"Call, Don't Fall" Elder Taylor G. Godoy

Inklings

"Be One with Christ" Elder Quentin L. Cook

D&C 20

D&C 109:53-56

Atonement

Phrase: "If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen." -Neal A. Maxwell

Affirmation: "I strive to be one with Jesus Christ as I choose to participate in sacred ordinances and make covenants. I seek to promote unity with others as I expand my circle of oneness by loving my neighbor and gathering Israel."

I listened to Inklings this morning with Emily and Katy Hughes. They discussed Elder Cook's talk, "Be One with Christ."

This afternoon James went to the Kays Lumber & Supply in Taylor to pick up some materials for the Hipps job. It was metal trim roofing material. Long pieces of metal. I was at home making snacks for tonight's Bunco meeting when I realized I got the wrong kind of biscuits. I had asked James to stop at the Walmart in Taylor and pick up some Grand biscuits and some sticks of mozzarella string cheese. He said he would, even though he was pulling a trailer. I thanked him. 

James called and said he got engrossed in the podcast he was listening to and went right past Walmart. He could tell I was a little upset when I said I would "make do."

He was at the Y and decided to go to Dollar General to see if they had what I needed. He made the sharp turn and didn't notice when he load left the truck. He did notice when he got out of the truck at Dollar General. He quickly went in and bought two cans of Grand biscuits and a bag of mozzarella cheese sticks. 

When James got back down to the turn where he lost his 600 lb. load he was wondering how he was going to get it back on the trailer. Just after he stopped, someone else stopped beside him. It was someone James had met when he poured Barbara Tignor's concrete slab. He works for the Hunsaker's and his name is Pete. James couldn't remember his last name. Pete got two more people to stop to help. Thank goodness the metal was not blocking traffic. They had the load repositioned on the trailer in no time. Thank goodness for good people who stop to help. 

The biscuit garlic cheese bombs, along with marinara dipping sauce, were a success at Bunco. There were some leftover that I took home with me.

Janna Grombach called me and asked if she could pick me up for Bunco. I told her it was too far out of the way and that I would meet her at the church. It was raining when I transferred my stuff in to Janna's pickup truck. 

The game is at Becky Skousen's tonight. It was still raining when we arrived at Becky's and precariously walked up the wet ramp to her house. 

We had four subs tonight. Michelle Beckham, India and Kaitlyn Sedig, and Sally Sedig. Those missing: Patsy Tedder, Amy Reynolds and the Hunsaker twins, Alicia and Stefani. 

Tina Allen had her arm in a sling. She hurt it at a family hike up Mt. Baldy. She will probably have to have surgery.

It was a fun night but we only lasted three nights because so many of us were tired. I had the lowest score so I got to pick one of the earlier gifts. I got a candle, something I always like to get.

As we were leaving Becky asked Janna to call her phone because she couldn't find it. Imagine how embarrassed I was when it rang my back pocket lit up. I had Becky's phone in one pocket, and mine in the other.

When I got home I had dishes to do. While I was cleaning the kitchen, James took my phone and did some walking.

A Dancing Queen

Mason

Our Patrol Cat

Vernon skies

Our two homes.

James built them both, along with our Pinedale home.

 

Wednesday, July 24, 2024: The Shumway's are leaving, trip to town, gas and snack for Bunco, Rain, J walks and I prepare my lesson, Tom spends the night outside

 

Urdaneta, Philippines

190th operating temple 

Dedicated: 28 Apr 2024

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Book of Mormon

Alma 33:12-23

Come Follow Me

Alma 32:26-43

I can know for myself.

April General Conference

"The Testimony of Jesus" Elder D. Todd Christofferson

D&C 109:54

Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.

James and I went to town early this afternoon. James needed to fill his truck with gas, a gas container, and a diesel container.

I needed to get ingredients for appetizers for Bunco tomorrow night, and a Bunco prize. I am making garlic biscuit cheese bombs. For the prize I got a beach towel and some micro fiber cleaning clothes and some wintergreen Icebreakers.

On the way home we stopped at Culver's so James could get his cod fillet sandwich. I got chicken tenders. I got Culver's Signature sauce and it was disgusting. James wanted me to be happy so he went inside and got me honey mustard and BBQ sauce. I saved two of my chicken tenders so I could use the Chikfila sauce I have at home. 

Once we got home and settled in we both took a nap. Tom slept on my lap on the recliner. After awhile James says he needs to roll up his truck windows in case, or before, it rains. I informed him that it had been raining for awhile.

James walks with my phone while I work on my lesson. In spite of the wind and the rain, Tom insists he's staying outside. Fine Tom. See you in the morning. 

Notes & Quotes

"What is the testimony of Jesus? 

It is the witness of the Holy Spirit that He is the divine Son of God, the Messiah and Redeemer. It is John's testimony that Jesus was in the beginning with God, that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and that 'in him was the gospel, and the gospel was the life, and the life was the light of men.' It is 'the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, . . . that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven.' It is the knowledge that 'there is no other name given whereby salvation cometh.' It is the 'testimony, last of all,' given by the Prophet Joseph Smith, 'that he lives! . . . That he is the Only Begotten of the Father - that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.'"

Grand Marshall of the Salt Lake

Pioneer Day Parade

Goodbye to the Shumway's

Temple memory